Tasmania supports preview

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: August 15, 2024

In addition to a pivotal pre-enduro round for the Supercars, there are four support categories also ready to put on a show at Symmons Plains.

The Australian Formula Ford Championship returns to Tasmania, as does other national series in Aussie Racing Cars and Porsche Sprint Challenge, while the local Tassie Tin Tops will also be in action.

Formula Ford

The Australian Formula Ford Championship returns after a two month break, but things fire up with Symmons Plains the first part of a double header with Sandown.

It is a tight contest with Eddie Beswick only 13 points ahead of Kobi Williams, while the likes of Liam Loiacono and Cody Maynes-Rutty also cannot be discounted.

The Formula Fords also raced in the Apple Isle last year where Jake Santalucia trumped Xavier Kokai and Maynes-Rutty.

Formula Ford Australia Tasmania schedule

Practice 1: Fri 9.15

Practice 2: Fri 11.50

Qualifying: Fri 15.40

Race 1: Sat 9.55

Race 2: Sat 14.05

Race 3: Sun 11.05

Aussie Racing Cars

The biggest Tasmanian Aussie Racing Cars field in almost a decade has been assembled with 29 pocket rockets to be unleashed.

Close racing is a guarantee with the long straights of Symmons Plains creating an abundance of slipstreaming opportunities.

The round is also being held at an important time of the year with only three rounds left in the season and the fight for the championship ever tightening.

Currently Joel Heinrich is on track for back to back titles, but only just with a seven-point advantage over Kody Garland and 10 over Cody Brewczynski.

Garland comes in with the momentum, however, after being victorious at Townsville.

But Symmons Plains is a happy hunting ground for Heinrich, who won three of the four races there last year.

Aussie Racing Cars schedule

Practice 1: Fri 10:30

Qualifying: Fri 12:50

Race 1: Sat 9:30

Race 2: Sat 12:20

Race 3: Sun 9:20

Race 4: Sun 11:40

Porsche Sprint Challenge

Oscar Targett will be looking to further cement his advantage at the top of the Porsche Sprint Challenge table in the penultimate round.

Targett currently enjoys a commanding 85-point lead over Brock Gilchrist, but 180 points are up for grabs this weekend.

Although the championship battle is rather one sided, the fight for the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy is much closer with Gilchrist actually in front by 18 points over Targett.

Pro-Am standings will be shaken up with drivers to drop their worst rounds.

A 14-car field will go racing with only five having previously steered a Porsche at Symmons Plains, while Conor Somers will return after his Townsville crash.

Porsche Sprint Challenge schedule

Practice 1: Fri 8.40

Practice 2: Fri 11.00

Qualifying: Fri 13.35

Race 1: Sat 10.30

Race 2: Sat 14.40

Race 3: Sun 12.10

Tassie Tin Tops

There will be great variety in the locally supported Tassie Tin Tops category.

The home grown class will see 17 cars ranging from Skylines, Falcons, Commodores, Lotus’ and more have a crack.

The highest profile driver will be Mark Duggan steering the same Aston Martin DBRS9 carrying the iconic Victoria Bitter colours that he takes to the Precision National Sports Sedan Series.

Last year the Tassie Tin Tops were also in action at the same event

Many of the same races from last year are coming back for more.

Tim Mann dominated in the BF Ford Falcon, but he is not on the entry list meaning there should be an open field on this occasion.

Tassie Tin Tops schedule

Practice: Fri 10.00

Qualifying: Fri 12.20

Race 1: Sat 8.55

Race 2: Sat 11.45

Race 3: Sun 9.50

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